Older people in Indonesia are receiving free chickens if they are vaccinated against COVID-19.
The program is part of the Cianjur Regency’s push to increase the number of vaccines administered to citizens aged 45 and over.
Galih Apria is the assistant police commissioner in the sub-district of Pecat. He says older residents were hesitant about getting their shots.
“Early on, there was a lot of misinformation and hoaxes about the vaccine circulating online, especially on social media,” Mr Apria said.
“Lots of elderly people thought that it does not prevent COVID-19 but would cause serious diseases and even death.”
25 in 250 local residents were vaccinated before the program. But since the free chicken campaign started, 250 people are lining up per day.
Mr Apria explains that free chickens are a sign of respect towards the elderly population. The chickens are reportedly easing people’s apprehensions with the health officials and vaccine.
Around 12 million Indonesians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or 4.3 percent of the entire population. However, over 53,000 Indonesians have lost their lives to COVID-19.
